Resilient pin curl clip with a pivoted spreader



July 27, 1965 A. SAFIANOFF RESILIENT PIN CURL CLIP WITH A PIVOTED SPREADER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 23, 1962 July 27, 1965 A. SAFIANOFF 3,196,884

RESILIENT PIN CURL CLIP WITH A PIVOTED SPREADER Filed NOV. 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,196,884 RESILIENT PIN QURL GL1]? WITH A PIVGTED SPREADER Albert Safianoif, Pains "erdes Estates, Calif., assignor to The Giilette Company, Boston, Mass, a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 239,428 11 Claims. (Oi. 1332-46) This invention relates to a hair fastener and pertains more specifically to a fastener of the spring clip type.

In the setting of hair, it is customary to form or shape a hair tress in a desired configuration, a common example of which is a fiat spiral known as a pin curl, and clamp or hold it in that configuration until it has been set to the extent that it has acquired the ability to retain the new configuration to a substantial extent when released. The setting may be accomplished either by wetting the hair with water before it is clamped and allowing it to dry before the clamp is released, or by applying a hair setting spray to the hair while clamped. In both cases spring clip hair fasteners are commonly employed for clamping or holding the hair in the desired configuration.

One object of the present invention is to provide a spring clip hair fastener which is composed of only two parts and which can readily be opened and applied to the hair with only one hand.

Another object is to provide a hair fastener of the type described of simplified design which can readily be fabricated.

Other and further objects will be apparent from the drawing and from the description which follows.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a View in side elevation showing the device in its closed position;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 showing the device in open position;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view in exploded form showing the two parts of the device;

FIG. 5 is a view in side elevation of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view in exploded form showing the two parts of the second embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a view in side elevation, in closed position, of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view in section taken along line Sl-9 of FIG. 7 showing the device in open position; and

'FIG. 10 is an isometric view in exploded form showing the two parts of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 9.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawing, in one embodiment of the invention the device takes the form of a clip member 10 having a pair of resilient legs 12, 14 connect-ed together adjacent one end by means of a U-shaped spring 16 which is integrally connected with the legs. The two legs extend generally in the same direction and are closely opposed to each other, particularly at their free ends, where in a preferred embodiment they are actually in contact with each other when in closed position. This spring clip member may be composed of a suitable synthetic plastic material having the desired physical properties of resiliency and strength, but in the preferred embodiment the material of construction is sheet metal from which the clip member may be tamped and formed. The legs 12 and 1 are preferably relatively wide as compared with their thickness and are provided with slotted openings 18, 18 to facilitate access of air to the hair tress secured by the clip. In the preferred embodiment leg 14 is bifurcated to provide additional flexibility and to permit the clip to accommodate itself to irregular thicknesses and conformations of hair tress. Leg 12 is provided with a portion 21) of restricted width adjacent the U-shaped spring 16, the narrowed portion 20 being connected to the main part of leg 12 by shoulders 22, 22.

Clip member 1t) is formed in such a manner that the legs 12, 1e are biased toward each other by spring 16 and by the inherent resiliency of the legs themselves, being arranged to clamp a tress of hair between them.

In order to spread the legs 12, 14 of the clip member apart to place the hair fastener on the hair, a spreader member 24 is provided which includes a pair of bent, divergent legs 26, 28 integrally joined tog-ether at one end to form an apex or fulcrum 30. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the leg 28 of the spreader member is bifurcated, the two portions 32, 34 being spaced apart by a distance great enough to enable them to straddle the narrowed portion 20 of leg 12 as well as the spring 16. A pivotal mounting for the apex of fulcrum 30 is provided in leg 14 of the clip member adjacent spring 16 by forming a transverse groove or channel 36 in portions of the leg adjacent its lateral margins. A central web 38 is separated from the grooved marginal portions 36, 36 by means of slots 40, 4t) and the central web is bent in the opposite direction from channels 36. A pair of pins 42, 42 are provided on spreader member 24 projecting inwardly toward each other from portions 32, 34 in position to be engaged beneath web 38 when fulcrum 30 is seated in channel 36. Spreader leg 26 is disposed between the legs 12, 14 of the clip member and is longer than the spacing between those legs. The second leg 28 of the spreader member which straddles portion 20 of clip leg 12 extends outwardly across leg 12 and terminates in a finger grip 44 disposed adjacent spring 16. Finger grip 44 bridges the space between portions 32, 34 and serves as a stop when the spreader member 24 is pivoted about its fulcrum by abutting against the upper marginal portion of spring 16, as shown in :FIG. 3. Shoulders 22, 22 'of leg 12 serve as steps against which portions 32, 34 abut when spreader member 24 is pivoted to its forward position in which the legs of the clip member are closed, as shown in FIG. 2.

In assembling the device of FIGS. 1 to 4 the two portions 32, 34 of bifurcated spreader member 24 are first spread apart to permit the spreader member to straddle portion 20 and leg 12 of the clip member, then clinched together to force pins 42, 42 beneath web 38.

It will be appreciated that equally satisfactory results can be achieved if the leg of the clip member is bifurcated to straddle the leg of the spreader member. As shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bifurcated portions 60, 62 of leg 12 straddle the narrowed portion 64 of leg 66 of the spreader member. In this embodiment there is also illustrated a preferred means for pivot-ally securing the spreader member to the clip memher. A pair of spurs 68, 68 are struck out from the material of leg 14 projecting toward the second leg 12 in position to be engaged in a mating pair of apertures or socket-s, 7t), 70 in the fulcrum of the spreader member.

In assembling the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 the inherent resiliency of bifurcated portions 60, 62 is sufficient to permit leg 66 of the spreader member to be forced between them and to permit the spreader member to be seated upon spurs 68, 68.

An additional embodiment is shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 of the drawing in which the clip member includes a pair of legs 82, 84 connected by a U-shaped spring 86 like the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 and with spurs 88, 88 like that of FIGS. 5 and 6. In addition, a spring tongue 90 is pressed out of bottom leg 84 to extend diagonally upwardly and rearwardly toward leg 82 and spring 86 with its free end closely adjacent to the inner face of leg 82 when the clip member is in closed position. Tongue 90 serves as a guard to prevent the hair fibers disposed between legs 82, 84 from becoming entangled in spurs 88, 88 and with spreader member 92. Spreader member 92 is in the form of a bent, arcuate bifurcated element of generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration having parallel pairs of legs 94, 94, 95, 95 joined at one end by a bridge portion 96 which serves as a finger grip. At the junction of each of legs 94, 95 are provided sockets 98, 98 which mate with spurs 88 ,88. The curbed or bent portions of legs 94, 95 adjacent each socket 88 serve as a fulcrum which bears against lower leg 90 so that .the spreader member is pivotally mounted, while the free ends of legs 94 slide against the inner face of upper leg 82. Because of the open space between the free ends of legs 94, the assembly of this embodiment with the pairs of legs 94, 94, 95, 95 straddling leg 82 and bridge portion 96 overlying it is very simple.

All of the parts of the several embodiments may be made of a suitable synthetic plastic composition, although sheet metal construction is preferred.

In using the hair fastener of the present invention, spring 16 and finger grip 44 are grasped between the finger and thumb of the user and are pressed toward each other, thus rocking or pivoting spreader member 24 about its fulcrum 30 and urging legs 12 and 14 apart so that the hair tress can be received between them. Upon release of pressure, the inherent resiliency of legs 12, 14 and of spring 16 urges the legs together to clamp the hair between them. The embodiments of FIGS. to operate in analogous fashion.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention solely thereto, but to include all of the obvious variations and modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A hair fastener comprising a clip member having a pair of resilient legs connected together adjacent one end and extending generally in the same direction and closely opposed to each other adjacent their free ends, said legs being arranged to clamp a tress of hair between them by their inherent resiliency, and means for spreading apart the free ends of said legs comprising a spreader member having a pair of divergent legs connected together at one end to form an apex and means for pivotally securing the apex of said spreader to one of the legs of said clip member spaced from the free end thereof with the free end of one of the legs of the spreader member slidingly engaging the inner face of the other leg of said clip member and the free end of the other leg of the spreader extending outwardly and transversely across said other leg of said clip member in position to be engaged by the fingers of the user to pivot said spreader about its apex and force said legs apart.

2. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for pivotally securing said clip member and said spreader member comprises a plurality of spurs secured to and projecting from one of said members received in mating sockets in the other of said members.

3. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 1 in which one leg of one of said members is bifurcated and straddles one leg of the other member.

4. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 3 in which one leg of the spreader member is bifurcated.

5. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 1 in which a guard is provided extending from one leg of said clip member to a position adjacent the inner face of the second leg thereof when said clip member is in closed position to prevent entanglement of hair fibers with said spreader member.

6. A hair fastener comprising a one-piece clip member having a pair of relatively wide, thin, resilient legs connected together at one end by a U-shaped integral spring,

said legs extending generally in the same direction with their wide faces opposing and having their free ends urged into positions closely adjacent each other by said spring, a first leg having adjacent said spring a groove extending transversely of its inner face to form a pivot seat, and a one-piece spreader member having a pair of divergent legs integrally joined together at one end to form a fulcrum pivotally mounted in said seat with a first spreader leg disposed between said clip legs with its free end arranged to bear slidingly on the inner face of a second clip leg, the length of said first spreader leg being greater than the spacing between said clip legs so that pivoting of said spreader forces said clip legs apart, the second leg of said spreader extending transversley across the second leg of said clip and terminating adjacent said spring in position to be pressed toward said spring by the fingers to open said clip legs.

7. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 6 in which one of said second legs is bifurcated and straddles the other at their crossing.

8. A hair fastener comprising a one-piece sheet metal clip member having a pair of relatively wide, thin, resilient legs connected together at one end by a U-shaped integral spring, said legs extending generally in the same direction with their wide faces opposing and having their free ends urged into positions closely adjacent each other by said spring, a one-piece sheet metal spreader member having a pair of divergent legs integrally joined together at one end to form a fulcrum, said clip member and spreader member including means for pivotally mounting said fulcrum on the inner face of the first clip leg adjacent said spring, with the first leg of said spreader disposed between said clip legs with its free end arranged to bear slidingly on the inner face of the second clip leg, said mounting means comprising a plurality of projecting spurs struck from the material of one of said members and a plurality of mating apertures in the other of said members, the length of said first spreader leg being greater than the spacing between said clip legs so that pivoting of said spreader about said fulcrum forces said clip legs apart, the second leg of said'spreader extending transversely across the second leg of said clip and terminating adjacent said spring in position to be pressed toward said spring to open said clip legs, one of said second legs being bifurcated and straddling the other at their crossing.

9. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 8 in which said spreader member has two parallel pairs of first and second legs, each pair being arcuate, in which said mating apertures are provided adjacent the junction of the legs of each pair, in which said spurs are struck up from one leg of said clip member, and in which the second legs of each pair straddle the other leg of said clip member and are joined together at a position remote from said apertures.

10. A hair fastener as claimed in claim 8 which includes a guard tongue struck from one leg of said clip member adjacent the end thereof connected to said spring, said tongue extending toward said spring with its free end disposed adjacent the inner face of the other leg of said clip member.

11. A hair fastener comprising a one-piece sheet metal clip member having a pair of relatively wide, thin, resilient legs connected together at one end by a U-shaped integral spring, said legs extending generally in the same direction with their wide faces opposing and having their free ends urged into positions closely adjacent each other by said spring, one of said legs being bifurcated, said bifurcated leg being provided with a pair of spurs struck therefrom adjacent its connection with said spring and projecting toward the inner face of the second leg of said clip member, and a one-piece sheet metal bifurcated spreader member of generally C-shaped cross-sectional configuration the legs of which are arcuate and are provided with apertures mating with said spurs, the convex face of said spreader member being opposed to said spurs 5 and the legs thereof straddling the second leg of the clip member With the bridge portion of the spreader overlying said second leg, the length of each leg of said spreader member from said aperture to the free end thereof being greater than th spacing between the legs of the clip member adjacent said spurs, said spreader member being arranged to be rocked about said mating spurs and apertures by finger pressure against said bridge portion to force the legs of said clip member apart by sliding engagement of the free ends of the legs of the spreader member with the inner face of the second leg of the clip member opposite said spurs, one of the legs of said clip member being further provided with a tongue struck out therefrom to project toward the inner face of the other leg of said clip 6 member and toward said spring, said tongue being disposed on the opposite side of said spurs from said spring. References Cites; by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Examiner. 

1. A HAIR FASTENER COMPRISING A CLIP MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF RESILIENT LEGS CONNECTED TOGETHER ADJACENT ONE END AND EXTENDING GENERALLY IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND CLOSELY OPPOSED TO EACH OTHER ADJACENT THEIR FREE ENDS, SAID LEGS BEING ARRANGED TO CLAMP A TRESS OF HAIR BETWEEN THEM BY THEIR INHERENT RESILIENCY, AND MEANS FOR SPREADING APART THE FREE ENDS OF SAID LEGS COMPRISING A SPREADER MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF DIVERGENT LEGS CONNECTED TOGETHER AT ONE END TO FORM AN APEX AND MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY SECURING THE APEX OF SAID SPREADER TO ONE OF THE LEGS OF SAID CLIP MEMBER SPACED FORM THE THER FREE END THEREOF WITH THE FREE END OF ONE OF THE LEGS OF THE SPREADER MEMBER SLIDINGLY ENGAGING THE INNER FACE OF THE OTHER LEG OF SAID CLIP MEMBER AND THE FREE END OF THE OTHER LEG OF THE SPREADER EXTENDING OUTWARDLY AND TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID OTHER LEG OF SAID CLIP MEMBER IN POSITION TO BE ENGAGED BY THE FINGERS OF THE USER TO PIVOT SAID SPREADER ABOUT ITS APEX AND FORCE SAID LEGS APART. 